6 Uses of Virtual Technology
(c) Tracey Lawton 2005

As a virtual assistant one of my responsibilities is to ensure that I'm up-to-date with technology, both on and off line, otherwise how can I provide an efficient administrative service to my clients?

How would you feel if I announced I needed to upgrade my typewriter (I hope I'm not showing my age!!)? You'd think I was still living in the dark ages!

In this article I'm going to share with you some examples of how technology is making it easier for us all to work virtually and for me to provide a first-rate professional administrative service to my clients.

#1 Blogging

Blogger.com or WordPress -- it's that word again!! Blog is short for Weblog and at its simplest is an online diary. You can have a blog that covers whatever subject you like, whether it be business, personal, hobbies, or family.

I run my own blog How Virtual Assisting Works. It's a business blog that tells you all about virtual assisting. One of the advantages of blogging is that it is linked to your website, and is another way for the search engines to find you, which is one of the reasons why it's so popular.

#2 Online Diary Management

There are websites that will let you manage your diary online. This means that your virtual assistant can log on and book meetings for you and you can view your schedule -- exactly the same as a traditional secretary would who sits in the office next to you. You can even set reminders so that you don't miss an important meeting or event. Some sites to try out are:

PIM Online
Net Appointment

#3 Virtual Meeting/Conference Rooms

These days meetings needn't be face-to-face -- you can do it from the convenience of your computer. You can even hold whole conferences online too! Think of the possibilities this opens for you. You can hold workshops, seminars, meetings, and interviews, whatever you want, simply by logging in from your PC. You can also show presentations, upload documents, or present handouts. As long as you have speakers/headphones and a mic attached to your PC you're ready to go. A high-speed Internet connection is also best too. Some sites to try out are:

Voxwire Web Conferencing
GoToMeeting - they also offer a complimentary trial

#4 Teleconferences

Teleconferences also open up endless possibilities for you. You can hold classes, seminars, and interviews. You can even record your teleconferences and have them transcribed afterwards (see my Audio Transcription Services) Your participants only have to pay for their call. Some sites to try out are:

Free Conference Call
Conference UK

#5 Group/Team Working

It's possible to work as a team on a project even if you're located on different sides of the world. Technology allows you to upload and collaborate on reports, track changes, brainstorm, hold meetings, discuss projects in real time, in fact anything that you need to do when working as a team. Just because you're not in the same office doesn't mean you're not on the same team! Some sites to try out are:

Thruport Hot Office
Mayetic Village

#6 Keep Connected While You're Away

You can access your PC from anywhere in the world using GoToMyPC. If you work mainly out of your home office but need to travel you can take your laptop with you and access your home office PC and all of its documents. However, with this service you do need to leave the home office PC switched on and connected in order to access it via your laptop.

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About the author: Online Business Manager & Virtual Assistant, Tracey Lawton, supports professional speakers, coaches, and authors to operate an efficient, organized, and profitable business. Learn how to create an efficient and organized office in 7 EASY steps, and receive free how-to articles at http://www.OfficeOrganizationSuccess.com